Cutler I: Introduction and Evolution

Several years ago I started a blog called “The Leader’s Compass.” At the time I was leading a team of about 250 employees, a leadership team of 12 and was traveling and teaching leadership and management concepts throughout the country. 

Fast forward several years and life has changed. After over 20 years in health and fitness I took a leap and joined forces with two partners in the medical spa industry. A few months ago all of our lives were turned upside down when the virus hit and we were all put into a mandatory quarantine. My lifestyle and life, like  many others changed immensely. No more work (furloughed from my job), no more travel (my job had me traveling every other week), no more social activities, no more gym, no more dinners out, taking the family shopping...everything changed. 

While it was a challenging time...being challenged in ways I had never imagined it was an awesome opportunity to pause, reflect and reimagine what my future could be. 

In my mid-forties now I look back at my life and can see many wonderful opportunities and experiences. Some in my past know me as an artist, some know me as a trainer, a speaker, a leader, a businessman, a father, a friend. While I’ve lived all of these roles and many others I realized during the quarantine that my life has been one large evolution from one state of being, from one role to the next. While I was not “working” I decided it was time to apply a concept my good friend Myles taught me a few years back. It was time to “woodshed.” 

Woodsheding, or going into the woodshed is a term musicians use when they drop off, isolate and just go deep and create. That was what I was going to do I decided. And as I’ve returned to “the workforce” just over a month ago I’m very happy with how my woodshed has helped me identify the next stage of my evolution. 

I realized that while I love to create - write, sketch, paint, talk, etc. my interests are continuing to evolve. My focus is no longer just dominated by concepts related to leadership. I love living well, living a life of purpose, passion and as Sinatra sang a life that is “my way.” 

So, it’s time for a change. From now on my blog is simply titled Cutler. No longer Leader’s Compass. The old posts can still be relevant and helpful and are still available. The new content will cover a variety of topics. Over the years I’ve had many friends and colleagues classify me as a “renaissance man.” The first time I was called that I had no idea what it meant. “You’re like a DaVinci” one friend said, “you love a variety of things and don’t limit yourself or your learning to just one thing.” 

I’m not sure if being a “renaissance man” is an accurate description or not. What I do know is the definition of “not limiting” myself and my learning is true. I love to learn and experience many different things in life. That’s what this blog will evolve into - an expression of and exploration into the many interests that I have and that I have had over the years. Maybe people will read it, maybe not. I can’t say I care that much. Sure, I love making a difference in people’s lives, but my blog is often just a way for me to codify and memorialize beliefs and topics that I’ve found helpful and interesting. 

In the end I guess I’ll end with a line from one of the best bands of all time - “good times, bad times, you know I’ve had my share.” I’m looking forward to having many more and sharing them with you. All my love!